Container

ABSTRACT

A BUCKET WITH AT LEAST ONE INCLINED FLAT SIDE WALL THAT FORMS AN OBTUSE ANGLE WITH THE BASE WALL OF SAID BUCKET SAID WALL HAVING IDENTATIONS THAT ENGAGE A PAINT OR ADHESIVE ROLLER, SAID BUCKET FURTHER HAVING A STABILIZING OR BRACING MEANS AT OR NEAR SAID BASE, AND MEANS TO RIGIDLY FASTEN SAID STABILIZING MEANS BELOW SAID FLAT SIDE WALL.

12, 1971 R. D. PADGETT, JR.. ET AL CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 5, 1967 Jan. 12, 1971 R. D. PADGETT, JR. ET AL 3,553,762

CONTAINER Original Filed July 5, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 IHW" J7 IN V EN TORS 1'? -01 Pzdyeii, J'Ir y 6- fi-fddjfi'it 4i" Mia/12m Avid/W145 K United States Patent US. Cl. 15-257.06 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bucket with at least one inclined flat side wall that forms an obtuse angle with the base wall of said bucket said wall having indentations that engage a paint or adhesive roller, said bucket further having a stabilizing or bracing means at or near said base, and means to rigidly fasten said stabilizing means below said flat side Wall.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 651,232, filed July 5, 1967.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the building and related industries it has been faster, more efiicient, and less expensive to apply certain paints, adhesives, and similar materials with a conventional roller rather than using a brush or a spray device. Numerous roller buckets and pans have been used with paint and other rollers in the industry. Therefore there has developed a considerable need for a combination roller bucket-pan.

In the prior art straight or substantially vertical wall buckets with raised ribs have been used in lieu of roller pans. These buckets are not very effective nor eflicicnt.

The applicants invention solves the problems of the prior art use of straight wall bucket and pans while providing stability and lack of tendency to tip over when engaged by a roller device. Applicants invention here represents an improvement over the vertical wall roller bucket shown in US Pat. 2,988,767, because in the instant instant invention the roller being rolled against an inclined flat wall can distribute and/or remove more paint or other material from a roller while being more stable and less inclined to tip over during application of the. roller to the ribbed fiat side wall.

This invention relates to containers, particularly receptacles or buckets adapted for use with paint rollers or rollers for applying adhesives such as tile mastic.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved receptacle or bucket that is operable with a roller so as to remove part of and/or to distribute a liquid or emulsion carried by the roller while being stable against tipping during use with the roller.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an improved receptacle or bucket that is inexpensive to manufacture and yet more convenient than those in the prior art for removing a liquid or emulsion from a roller without Waste of paint.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle or bucket that may be readily stacked to a significant number, in a nested relationship, while being provided with a means at the base for stabilizing and preventing tipping of the receptacle, particularly when in use.

The invention will be more completely illustrated by reference to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side section taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of the base wall and stabilizing member shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bottom of the receptacle,

3,553,762 Patented Jan. 12, 1971 Ice illustrated in FIG. 1 equipped with a retractible stabilizing means.

FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of the bottom of a receptacle illustrating an additional embodiment of the stabilizing means of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of one embodiment of this invention and illustrates one foldable stabilizing means of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a section taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6 showing the flat ribbed wall of the receptacle or bucket and the stabilizing means.

FIG. 8 is a side view of one embodiment of this invention, with another stabilizing means.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the receptacle shown in FIG. 8.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, in FIG. 1 the receptacle or bucket or container has a generally curved side wall 1 with a base 2 and an upper rim 3. One side wall 4 of the receptacle is generally flat and joined to the base wall or bottom of the receptacle at an obtuse angle so as to be inclined outwardly from the base. A receptacle or bucket of this invention has a height dimension that is greater than either its width or breadth as is customary in a bucket, as distinguished from a pan. This feature is clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings above. It should be understood that the height of the bucket of this invention as compared with the width, breadth or diameter is not different than that of other buckets as those skilled in the art define as buckets but pans, trays and similar containers are to be excluded. The height, in such case, may be essentially equal to or greater than the diameter, breath or width. In most instances the height will be not substantially less than either the width, breadth or diameter. This generally flat, inclined side wall 4, with suitably spaced ribs is joined to rim 3 at its upper edge at points 5 and 6. This generally flat side wall 4 is equipped with ribs 7 that are indentations or raised surfaces across the interior of the side wall. It is readily seen that since this fiat side wall is inclined with regard to the horizontal, a paint roller or adhesive roller may be rubbed and rolled across the ribs or indentations on the interior of the flat wall so as to remove and/or distribute the liquid or emulsion evenly on the roller.

The receptacle or bucket is also equipped with a stabilizing means at or near the base, which in FIG. 1 is a plate 8 with a lip 9 that engages the floor or other surface on which the receptacle rests. In FIG. 1 the stabilizing member 8 readily gives stability and braces the receptacle against tipping when the roller is pressed. down against the ribs or indentations 7 on side wall 4.

In FIG. 2, a section taken along line 22 in FIG. 1 the angle 0 will usually vary between 10-5 and 165 degrees. It can be readily observed that when the angle 0 is in the range of to degrees, which is the most preferred range, the stabilizing or bracing means 8 with lip 9 serves to prevent tipping of the receptacle.

The base rim and flange 11 of the receptacle or bucket may extend around the entire periphery of the receptacle as shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 3, the section taken along line 33 in FIG. 2 illustrates the stabilizing means as an extensible, retractible plate 8 is slidably held in a pair of L-shaped channels 12 that may be affixed to the exterior of base member 10. If desired, the plate 8 with a lip 9 may be rigidly affixed in an extended position to the base of the container.

In FIG. 4, a plan view of the bottom of the receptacle or bucket, a pair of slotted tubes 1.3 may be aflixed to the base or bottom wall of the receptacle 10, at the exterior thereof by means of rivets, welding, brazing, or equivalent means.

Each tubular member 13 comprising the housing for a wire or a similar extensible member 15 that acts as a bracing or stabilizing means and may be slipped at its inner ends 16 through a longitudinal substantially horizontal slot in the wall of the tubular member 13 so that each end of the wire or brace 15 may be slidable back and forth within the tubular member 13. When it is desired to stack, nest, or store the receptacle or container, the tubular members 13 with the rounded or bent ends 16 protruding through the said slot may be slidably engaged in tubular members 13 when the container of this invention is not in use.

FIG. illustrates another stabilizing member useful in this invention. A tubular sleeve-like member 17 may be connected to the wall of the container by rivets, welding, or otherwise. A rod 18 is extendable, slidably engaged within the tubular member 17 and rigidly affixed to a cross bar 19 so that the rod '19 may be, by means of rod 18, be moved back against the base or recessed within the base of the container when not in use or when it is de sired to stack a number of the containers together. In the use of this stabilizing means, the cross bar rod 19 may be pulled out with the tubular member 18 still partially engaged within tubular housing member 17 thereby lending rigidity to the container.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a flat, foldable stabilizing member 20 that may be maintained in a substantially horizontal stabilizing position. In FIG. 6 a flange 21 extends around the periphery of the arcuate section of the receptacle at the base of the receptacle. The fiat, foldable stabilizing member that may be a pivotable plate 20 is secured by a pivotal connecting member on each side of the plate 22, having an aperture therein, in stabilizing position by using nuts, bolts, and equivalent fastening devices to secure plate 20 to flange 21, for example by a bolt or rivet 23 on One side and a bolt and wing nut or the like on the other side. When the receptacle is in use, plate 20 is lowered to the horizontal position so as to contact the floor, shelf, ladder scaffold or other surface upon which the receptacle is rested and the wing nut 24 and/or the bolt and nut 23 may be tightened so as to form a rigid stabilizing member, generally parallel to the base wall of the container. The wing nut 24 should be located on the inner wall of flange 21 to allow stacking. When it is desired to stack, nest, or store the containers the flat plate may be folded against the exterior surface of wall 4 by loosening the wing nut 24 or the nut and bolt 23 as desired. It can be readily seen that the nut portion of the wing nut and bolt 24 should be located on the exterior wall of flange 21 to facilitate stacking. The wing nut, when located on the exterior of flange 21 it will serve as some impediment to nesting or stacking.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrates another stabilizing device that is operative in combination with a receptacle in this invention. A rigid wire 25, best shown in FIG. 9, may be attached to flange 21 by a wing nut 24 and a bolt or other equivalent fastening means 23 through a loop in each end of the wire. This rigid wire may be pivoted about the bottom of the receptacle when not in use.

However, it is apparent that any bracing or stabilizing means can be used that extends from the base of the receptacle, beneath the flat wall and can be rigid in that position. This stabilizing or bracing means should be when in its extended position, beneath the flat wall with its indented ribs against which the roller is engaged and should generally be parallel to the base wall or bottom of the container. It is also preferable and a particular feature of this invention that the stabilizing member be retractable, or foldable so as to generally follow the exterior contour of the receptacle or to actually be recessed within the walls, particularly beneath or within the bottom wall of the receptacle so as to facilitate stacking.

The foregoing description is intended as merely illustrative of the invention and should not be considered to be limited other than by the appended claims. All equivalent configurations and @mbQQimentS that will be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art are also intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. A bucket having a height dimension not substantially less than either its width or breadth and suitable for retaining a liquid comprsing a base wall joined at its periphery by a side wall ,to form a liquid tight container wherein at least a portion of said side Wall is generally flat, said side wall portion having a plurality of ribs forming raised surfaces on the interior surface of said wall, and said generally flat portion being joined to said base wall at an obtuse angle so as to extend from the base at an incline and an extensible stabilizing means connected to the base of said container generally below said flat wall portion of said container and means to rigidly fasten the stabilizing means below the flat side wall portion.

2. The bucket of claim 1 wherein a substantially vertical flange extends around a substantial portion of the periphery of the base wall of the container, the lower edge of which forms the support for the container.

3. The bucket of claim 2 wherein the bracing means is pivotally attached to the flange member.

4. A bucket having a height dimension not substantially less than either its width or breadth dimensions and suitable for retaining a liquid comprising a base wall joined at its periphery by at least one side wall, to form a liquid tight container wherein a portion of one said side wall is generally flat, said side wall portion having spaced, raised surfaces on the side of said side wall, and said generally flat wall portion being joined to said base wall at an obtuse angle so as to extend out from the base at an incline, said flat wall having an outer rim forming an upper edge of said bucket, a stabilizing member projecting from the base of said container substantially below said inclined flat wall, wherein the said stabilizing member extends from the base to a point that is substantially below the outer rim of said flat wall portion, and means to rigidly fasten the stabilizing means below the flat side wall portion.

5. The bucket of claim 4 wherein the stabilizing means is centered below the flat wall portion.

6. The bucket of claim 4 wherein the stabilizing means is of substantial width in comparison to the width of the flat side wall portion of said bucket.

7. The bucket of claim 4 wherein the stabilizing means is of a width not less than substantially one-third the width of the -flat side wall portion of said bucket.

8. The bucket of claim 4, wherein the stabilizing means is centered below the flat wall portion, and the stabilizing means is of substantial width in comparison to the width of the flat side wall portion of said bucket.

9. The bucket of claim 8 wherein the stabilizing means is of a Width not less than substantially one-third the width of the flat side wall portion of said bucket.

10. The bucket of claim 4 wherein the stabilizing member extends to a point beyond the outer rim of said flat wall portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 815,539 3/1906 Krainik l5262 903,524 11/1908 Weil 15262 1,463,750 7/1923 Poulsen 15262 2,763,880 9/1956 Mulcahy 15257.06 2,932,838 4/1960 Ouellette 15257.06 2,988,767 6/1961 Tretwold et al. 15257.06 3,110,921 11/1963 Conner 15257.06

FOREIGN PATENTS 532,744 11/1954 Belgium 15-257.06

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner L. G. MACHLIN, Assistant Examiner 

